"This new Web tool allows Michigan residents to quickly find and better understand a high school's performance given the school's unique circumstances," said Mackinac Center Director of Education Policy Michael Van Beek — who compiled the database for the Midland-based conservative think tank — in a statement.

"They can compare schools more effectively and uncover hidden gems. They may also find some possible underachievers."

The searchable and sortable database, which provides information for specific schools through a user-friendly online tool, is assembled from more than 20 state and federal government datasets. Users can view graduation rates, ACT test scores and Michigan Merit Exam results for individual public high schools, and they can compare high schools within a particular district, county or locale.

File PhotoThe Mackinac Center in downtown Midland.

Data from the 2009-2010 school year are available, and so are average data for 2006-2007 through 2009-2010. Data for high schools statewide can be downloaded from the website, although alternative schools and certain special-population schools were omitted from the database.

"By providing contextual data, this online database presents a better view of how Michigan's public high schools compare to one another than can be found elsewhere," Van Beek said in a statement.

The Michigan Public High School Context and Performance Database is available online at www.mackinac.org/cap.